Springfield, MO (June 6, 2013) Krispy Kreme Doughnuts® and The Salvation Army invite everyone to join them in commemorating National Donut Day on Friday June 7th!

The sweet celebration, held each year on the first Friday in June, was established in Chicago more than 75 years ago to honor The Salvation Army's "donut lassies". During World War I, Salvation Army donut lassies provided soldiers with donuts, writing supplies, stamps and home-cooked meals. Due to limited resources, the donuts were often fried in the soldier's helmets. The donuts then became synonymous with The Salvation Army and the American soldiers returning home with the nickname "doughboys."

On Friday June 7th, in honor of National Donut Day, stop into any participating Krispy Kreme location to receive one FREE doughnut of any variety! No purchase necessary. Local participating Krispy Kreme stores include both the Springfield & Branson locations - 3860 S. Campbell Ave. in Springfield & 150 Tanger Blvd. in Branson.

Last year, The Salvation Army provided assistance to more than 207,000 Ozarks'residents with such things as rental and prescription assistance, shelter, food and a variety of other social service programs & services.

76th Annual National Donut Day Fun Facts

National Donut Day was first celebrated in Chicago in 1938. Today, the annual event is commemorated on the first Friday in June.

National Donut Day commemorates the "donut lassies", female Salvation Army volunteers, who provided writing supplies, stamps, clothes-mending, home-cooked meals, and of course, donuts, for soldiers on the front lines.

Approximately 250 Salvation Army volunteers provided assistance to American soldiers in France during WWI.

Due to limited resources, these treats were often fried seven at a time in the soldiers' helmets.

Last year, The Salvation Army helped more than 207,000 Ozarks' residents by providing them with food, shelter, clothing and through a variety of other social service programs.

To support the year-round outreach of The Salvation Army Ozark Area Coordination financial contributions can be sent to The Salvation Army, P.O Box 9685 Springfield MO or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY or by visiting http://donate.salvationarmyusa.org - 82¢ of every dollar goes directly toward programs & services that help local Ozarks residents in need.

About Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme is an international retailer of premium-quality sweet treats, including its signature Original Glazed(R) doughnut. Headquartered in Winston-Salem, N.C., the Company has offered the highest-quality doughnuts and great-tasting coffee since it was founded in 1937. Krispy Kreme is proud of its Fundraising program, which for decades has helped non-profit organizations raise millions of dollars in needed funds. Today, Krispy Kreme can be found at over 740 locations in 22 countries around the world and approximately 10,000 grocery, convenience and mass merchant stores in the U.S. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. (NYSE: KKD) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Visit us at www.KrispyKreme.com.

About The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar The Salvation Army spends is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, visit www.salvationarmyusa.org.